Greenwich Park after the Olympic test events (UK)

HISTORIC trees in Greenwich Park have been left damaged by the Olympic test events, according to campaigners against the 2012 games.

Last month 10,000 people attended the venue, which was being tested for the equestrian events and modern pentathlon.

No to Greenwich Olympic Equestrian Events (NOGOE) says an existing site should be used for the Games rather than the park.

NOGOE spokesman, Sev D'Souza, said: “Seb Coe’s famous last words were ‘you wont know we were here’. But if you look around the park it’s pretty obvious LOCOG has been there.

“The appearance of the park is not very good because of the patches everywhere.

“The cross country course has damaged the acid grassland and the roots of veteran trees.”

He added: “They are taking risks with a world heritage site for the sake of a few days of sport.

“Having experienced the test event I’m even more concerned about the scaled up version next year.”

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) began restoring the park on the day of the last event by removing the cabins and tents as well as reseeding, fertilising and watering the grass.

Wood chips were also put down around older trees for extra protection.

Royal Parks project manager for 2012, Derrick Spurr, said: “Grass is a very tolerant plant. Provided we get the conditions right they will generate very quickly.

“LOCOG says it will be in a good condition, if not better, when it is returned. I’m absolutely confident to say it will be achieved.”

He added: “People will have some difficulty to see an impact on the park.”

LOCOG’s general manager for Greenwich Park, Jeremy Edwards, says the park should be fully open to the public by September.

He said: “For us this part is still the test event. We wanted to see if it would work and it’s been successful.”

“We are putting the park back as quickly as we can and as best as we can for the community.”